Netflix Viewers Are Staying Up Until 3AM For Animal Kingdom
Some shows are easy to watch one episode at a time. Animal Kingdom apparently isn’t one of them.
The crime drama has been recommended by Netflix viewers searching for a series so addictive that they could happily sacrifice a night’s sleep just to find out what happens next. With six seasons of crime, betrayal and family conflict, the series gives viewers plenty of reasons to keep pressing play.
Originally broadcast from 2016 to 2022, Animal Kingdom is now available to stream in full on Netflix UK.
A criminal family at the centre of everything
The story begins with 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody, played by Finn Cole. After his mother dies from a heroin overdose, J moves to Southern California to live with his estranged grandmother and her family.
He soon discovers that the Codys are far from an ordinary family. Their lifestyle is funded by carefully planned robberies and other criminal activity, placing J in a dangerous new world where loyalty can be a matter of survival.
At the centre of the family is Janine “Smurf” Cody, played by Ellen Barkin. Controlling and fiercely protective, Smurf runs the family and oversees the criminal operations involving her sons.
Her children include Andrew “Pope” Cody, the troubled and unpredictable eldest son played by Shawn Hatosy; Craig Cody, the volatile middle son played by Ben Robson; and Deran Cody, the youngest, played by Jake Weary. Scott Speedman also stars as Baz, Smurf’s adopted right-hand man.
Six seasons of heists, betrayal and revenge
What starts as J trying to adapt to his new surroundings gradually develops into a much larger struggle over the family’s power, secrets and legacy.
Across its six-season run, the Cody family carries out increasingly ambitious robberies while internal loyalties begin to fracture. J becomes increasingly entangled in their world, and the family’s conflicts eventually push the story towards revenge and confrontation.
The series ultimately ran for six seasons and 75 episodes, with its final episode airing on August 28, 2022.
That long-running story gives Animal Kingdom plenty of room to explore the complicated relationships between the Codys, particularly the uneasy bond between Smurf and the sons she controls.
Why viewers find it so addictive
@avril_rawlings Binge watching on the weekends #netflixrecommendation #bingewatch #suggestions ♬ original sound – The Washed Athlete
The series currently holds an 89% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, while IMDb users have given it an 8.2/10 rating.
Much of its appeal comes from the combination of high-stakes heists and a family dynamic in which almost every relationship carries an element of danger.
Ellen Barkin’s performance as Smurf has been particularly noted, with her commanding portrayal making the character one of the central forces driving the drama. Shawn Hatosy’s performance as Pope has also attracted attention for its intensity.
The show has also developed a reputation among viewers for its fast-moving plot, criminal schemes and constant tension. At the same time, its characters are deliberately difficult to root for. Their selfish decisions and criminal behaviour can make the series emotionally demanding, with some viewers describing the experience as “emotionally exhausting.”
That contrast is part of what keeps the story moving: the characters may be deeply flawed, but their shifting loyalties and increasingly complicated problems make it difficult to simply walk away.
All six seasons are on Netflix UK
For anyone looking for a crime drama with a long-running story, complicated family relationships and plenty of heists, Animal Kingdom offers 75 episodes across six seasons.
All six seasons are currently available to stream on Netflix UK, making it the kind of series that can easily turn into a much longer viewing session than planned.